The public are being given the chance to design a national memorial in honour
of the Spitfire which will be up to three times the size of the original
fighter.

The statue – which will be up to 180ft (55m) tall – is to be erected in Southampton, the city where the aircraft was designed and first built.

The Spitfire Tribute Foundation, the organisation behind the scheme, is launching a public competition, backed by The Sunday Telegraph, to select the design

The winner will see their concept built at a cost of £2 million.

The foundation hopes the memorial will be completed by the end of next year, the 75th anniversary of the aircraft's test flight, which took place from what is now Southampton airport.

John Hannides, chairman of the foundation and a councillor in the city, said: "We want to allow any amateur, anyone with a passion or an interest in Spitfires, right up to professional designers, to get in touch.

"We want the structure to be up to three times the size of the original aircraft and want it to be elevated, at some angle, as if it is in flight.

"Our only other stipulation is that we want it to be the recognisable shape of the Spitfire. We don't want interpretations of it, or just parts of it to be featured. We are purists. The Spitfire itself was a fantastic design. Why try to improve on it?"

The design contest comes as commemorations are under way to mark the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

The single-engine aircraft was designed in 1936 by RJ Mitchell at the city's Supermarine seaplane factory as the Air Ministry sought planes for the looming conflict with Germany.

The Spitfire played a critical role in the Battle of Britain in 1940, during which the RAF defeated attempts by the German Luftwaffe to gain air superiority, and helped to frustrate Adolf Hitler's plans for an invasion of Britain.

With its distinctive outline and the sound of its Merlin engine, the Spitfire become a symbol of Britain's resistance and heroism in the Second World War, overshadowing the Hurricane which also fought in the battle.

Mr Hannides added: "We want this memorial to be a national tribute to RJ Mitchell, to the aircraft itself, to the role it played in protecting freedom and democracy, and also to the pilots that flew it and the men and women who built and maintained it.

"While there are other memorials to the Spitfire, this will be the only one of its kind in terms of its size, scale and prominence, anywhere in the world."

To pay for the memorial, a fund-raising campaign is being launched, to run alongside the design contest.

The foundation hopes to raise the money from private and corporate donations and has appealed for contributions from readers of The Sunday Telegraph.

Squadron Leader Alan Jones, director of Solent Sky museum and a member of the foundation, said: "The Spitfire is a national treasure.

"It defended the whole country and this is to become a national memorial to it. Everyone should feel a part of this."

To keep costs down, there will be no financial payment for the winning design, although the creator will receive a free flight on board a two-seater Spitfire.

The foundation will employ a team of designers and engineers to help to turn the winning entry into reality.

The structure will be built next to a new £19 million cruise ship terminal on the site of the old docks.

It is hoped the statue – which will have a wingspan of around 100ft (30m) – will become as recognisable a landmark as the Angel of the North in Gateshead.

Those wishing to enter the contest should send a colour illustration of their design on one sheet of standard weight A3 paper.

On the reverse side, they must print their name, postal address, daytime telephone number and a brief description of the design, including choice of materials.

Entries should be sent to Solent Sky (Spitfire Tribute Monument Open Competition), Albert Road South, Southampton SO14 3FR. Entries for the design competition must be received by August 9 and will not be returned.

The Foundation's decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. In submitting a design idea, entrants agree to transfer their intellectual property rights in the design to the Foundation.

Donations for the fund can be made by cheque, payable to The Spitfire Tribute Foundation, and sent to Spitfire Tribute Fund, Telegraph Media Group, PO BOX 609, LONDON, SW1W 0XN